Smash Mouth’s major 1999 hit “All Star” directly applies to the Pikes Peak Miners 18U AAA trio of goaltender Jeremy Swayman and forwards Brendan Doyle and Trevor Paradise.

All three played at the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) All-Star Game Jan. 9 in the Detroit suburb of Troy, Mich., and represented the Miners well.

Both Doyle and Paradise scored goals as Team OT Sports beat Team Easton, 7-3. Swayman made 17 saves on 19 shots in his half of the game.

And while all three have aspirations of playing junior hockey and college hockey, they’re all relishing this season with Pikes Peak.

“Time flies when you’re having fun,” said Doyle. “Looking back at the first half of the season, it has definitely been my favorite year of hockey. It all starts with a great group of guys who have the same common goal. Being named to the NAPHL All-Star Game was very exciting, but I know I need to keep improving my game every day to have a chance at the next level.”

Paradise, now in his fifth season in a Miners uniform, wears the ‘C’ this year and said it’s rewarding to be tabbed a league All-Star.

“This season has been awesome for me,” Paradise said. “I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys behind me who all believe in what we are trying to do. Being named an All-Star is just a small reward for how hard I have been working.”

For Swayman, who saw time earlier this season with the United States Hockey League’s Tri-City Storm, credits the Miners and 18U coach Greg Vanover for getting him to this point in his career.

“I think it is an incredible honor to be an All-Star, playing with the best players in the league,” said Swayman. “The Miners have been an extremely beneficial piece to my development this year. They are a first-class organization with an incredible coaching staff that has gone above and beyond for me and my play. Coach Vanover is an extremely talented coach and has pushed every one of us to our absolute limits, which will help our team in the long run and with our personal careers.”

— Matt Mackinder